Collapsible gate



April 18, 1939. A. w, CUNNINGHAMv CQLLAPSIBLE GATE 2 Sheets-Sheet lFiled April 4, 1938 E 5 W EUA//V//VGHAM I I l l I IJ.

.vinti l|||1 I Il April 18, 1939. A, w CUNNINGHAM COLLAPSIBLE GATE 2Sheets-Shea?l 2 Filed April 4, 1958 Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATESPATENT IOFFICE 2,154,421 coLLAPsIBLE GATE Arthur W. Cunningham, Dayton,Ohio Application April 4, 193s,` serial No. 199,838 looiaiipp. (ci..2o-19) This invention relates to a collapsible gate and is designedprimarily for use with elevators. It is common practice toprovide thedoorways of I elevator shafts, particularly the shafts of freight ITFfait' elevators, with vertically movable gates but these gates, for themost part at least, havey been/of such a character as rto require alarge overhead clearance to permit the gat-e to move to its upper oropen position. In many buildings the ceilings of the rooms with whichthe elevator shaft communicates are so low that only a small overheadclearance is available.- thus preventing the use of such a gate withoutmaking the same of such ka narrow vertical width or height that it willnot adequately close the doorway.

One object of the present invention is to provide a gate of suchacharacter that when in its normal or closed position it will adequatelyclose the doorway but which may be collapsed to a narrow width so thatit will occupy a relatively small space above the doorway when moved toits open position.

Afurtherobject of the invention is to provide a gate' comprising aplurality of Vsections which are so connected that they may be moved inunison andmay also be moved with relation one to the other intooverlapping positions.

y A further object of the invention is to provide such a gate in whichthe sections may be quickly and easily `moved into and out of theiroverlapping positions. l

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide such a gate with meansfor positively limiting the movement of the sections from theiroverlapping positions. n

A further object of the invention is to provide such a gate with meansfor automatically accommodating the same to variations in the distancebetween upright guides.

Afurther object of the invention is to provider such a gate which willbe of simple inexpensive construction and in which the various partswill belofl such a character that they will not be easily disarranged soas to render the apparatus inoperative.

Other objectsof the invention may appear asr an enlarged section takenon the linef3--3 lof Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail View of theautomatically adjustableslide block; Fig. 5 is 'a section taken* on theline 5 5 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 6 is asection taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of thearrows; Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 'I-I of Fig. 2; and Fig. 8is a similar vview showing the sections in their extended positions.

In these 4drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention andhave shown the same as installed in an elevator shaft having a doorwayI0 and having on opposite sides of the doorway frame members or verticalposts II which are provided with upright guides, such as slide bars i2.The gate comprises a plurality of sections which are so connected one tothe other that they may be moved in unison or may be moved with relationone to the other into overlapping positions so as to collapse the gateto a relatively narrow width. The gate comprises three sections I3, I4and I5 and in the arrangement here shown the upper and lower sections I3and I5 are movable rwith relation to the intermediate section I4 so thatthey may be brought into overlapping positions with relation thereto, itbeing understood that the three sections of the gate are arranged inseparate but adjacent planes.

The several sections may be supported and connected one to the other inany suitable manner. In the particular construction illustrated elongatemembers I 6 are secured to the respective ends of the intermediatesection I4 and are provided with means for slidably connecting the sainewith the upright guides I2. The elongate members may be of any suitablecharacter and are preferably of such a length thatr they extend frompoints near the upper edge of the intermediate section to points asubstantial distance below the lower edge of that section. Each elongatemember is here shown as formed of two angle irons I'l rigidly secured tothe intermediate section I4 by straps I8 and having parallel flanges I9extending inwardly'in spaced relation to the straps to points spacedshort distances from the outer ends of Ithe gate sections. In thepresent construction each elongate member I6 is connected with theintermediate gate section at two points and said intermediate section isprovided at Yearch end with a relatively narrow downwardly extend.-` ingpart I4 to which the lower straps I8k are secured, as shown in fulllines in Figs. 2 and 6. The means for slidably connecting the elongatemembers with the upright guides may take various forms and it ispreferably of such acharacter as to automatically accommodate the gateto any minor variations in the dstance'between the two laterally spacedupright guides. For this purpose each elongate member is provided withone or more supporting members, each member being here shown ascomprising a pair of outwardly extending flanges or plates 20 rigidlysecured to the elongate member and spaced apart to receive between thema slide block 2| having its outer edge grooved as at 22 to receive theedge of the adjacent slide bar I2. The supporting members are providedwith downwardly and outwardly inclined slots 23 and the slide block isprovided with parts, such as pins 24, which extend into and are freelyslidable in the slots 23 so that when unrestrained the slide block willmove downwardly and outwardly by gravity and when inward pressure isexerted upon the slide block it will move upwardly and inwardly. In thismanner the slide blocks at the opposite ends of the intermediate sectionof the gate will automatically accommodate themselves to any variationsin the 'distance between the slide bars I2. Cables25 are connected withthe respective elongate members I6, extend upwardly about pulleys 2Snear the upper ends of the posts II and are connected at their otherends with weights 21 which counterbalance the weight of the gate as awhole. In the arrangement shown each cable 25 extends between the strapsI3 at the adjacent end of the intermediate section and is con- Y nectedwith a plate 28 secured to the lower edges of those straps. (See Figs. 3and 4.)

The lower gate section I5 is provided at each end with one or more slideblocks 29 which, in the present instance, are formed integral withstraps 30 rigidly secured to the respective ends of the gate section,each slide block having a groove 3| to receive the adjacent fiange I9 ofthe elongate member I6, which forms a guide the-refor.- The upper gatesection has at each end thereof a downwardly extending part or arm 32 towhich is rigidly secured a slide block 33 which is also grooved toreceive the edge of the adjacent flange I9 of the elongate member.Secured to each end of the upper portion of the upper section is anoutwardly extending bent arm 34, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, whichis provided with a slide block 35 grooved to receive the edge of theupright guide I2, so that this upper gate section is slidably connectedboth with the elongate members I6 and with the fixed upright guides I2.By so mounting the upper and lower gate sections they may be movedsimultaneously into positions alongside of the intermediate gatesection.

The upper and lower gate sections may be connected with the elongatemembers I6 and the intermediate gate section I4 in any suitable mannerwhich will cause the .upper and lower sections to move with the elongatemembers and intermediate section but will permit the same to havemovement with relation thereto into and out of positions overlapping theintermediate section. In the particular construction illustrated theintermediate section I4, see Fig. 6, has mounted thereon near each endthereof a guide or pulley 36 about which extends a flexible member orchain 3l which is secured at one end to the adjacent arm 32 of the uppersection I3 and at its lower end to the upper portion of the lowersection I5. In this manner the upper and lower sections are caused tomove with the intermediate section when vertical movement is imparted tothe latter and the upper and lower sections are caused to movesimultaneously in opposite directions, movement imparted to either ofthese members being transmitted through the chain 31 to the othermember. This form of connection also serves as a counterbalancingconnection between the upperA and lower sections so that one willsubstantially counterbalance the weight of the other and the sectionscan be very easily moved from one position to another.

If the upper and lower gates are moved from their collapsed positions totheir extended positions in a violent manner there is danger of theslide blocks being carried beyond the ends of the guides and to preventsuch an occurrence I have provided means for positively limiting themovement of the upper and lower sections from their overlappingpositions. In the form illustrated in Figs. 'l and 8 this meanscomprises a strap 3B secured to the lower section I5 near the upper edgethereof, extending about the lower edge of the intermediate section I4and connected with the upper section near the lower edge thereof, thestrap being of such a length as to positively interrupt the movement ofthe sections before the guide blocks can move out of engagement withtheir guides; When the sections are in their collapsed and elevatedpositions an intermediate portion of the strap 38 will extend below thegate, see Figs. 2 and 7, and thus form a hand grip .which may be graspedby the operator to lower the gate.

The operation of the gate will be readily under- -stood from theforegoing description and it will be apparent that when the gate is inits normal or closed position the three sections thereof are arrangedone above the other, as shown in Fig. 1. When the gate is to be openedthe upper or lower section is moved toward its overlapping position withrelation to the intermediate section, thereby causing the other movablesection to be simultaneously moved toward its overlapping position.After the gate has been collapsed, orY during the movement of the upperand lower sections to their overlapping positions, the intermediatesection and therefore the gate as a whole is moved upwardly, so that thegate` as a whole is moved in a collapsed condition into the space abovethe doorway I0, and because of the relatively narrow width of the gatewhen collapsed only a small clearance above'the doorway is required toaccommodate `the same. Due to the construction andarrangement of theparts the operation of the gate may be very easily effected with butlittle effort von the part of the operator and there is little or nodanger of the several parts being disarranged or broken so as to renderthe gate inoperative. Y

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the detailsthereof as various modifications may occur to a person skilled in theart. f Y

Y Having now fully described myjinvention, what I claim as new anddesire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A gate of the character described comprising an intermediate section,upper and lower sections, means for supporting said Vupper and lowersections on said intermediate section for simultaneous movement to orfrom positions overlapping said intermediate section, means separatefrom and independent of said supporting means for connecting said upperand lower sections one tothe other to positively limit their movementsfrom said overlapping positions, and means for mounting the` severalsections-for simultaneous movement toward or from an elevated position.

2. A gate of the character described comprising `an intermediatesection, upper and lower sections mounted for simultaneous movement toor from positions overlapping said intermediate section, a exible memberconnected at one end with the upper portion of said lower section,extending about the lower edge of said intermediate section andconnected at its other end with the lower portion of said upper section,and means for mounting the several sections for simultaneous movementtoward or from an elevated position.

3. A gate of the character described comprising an intermedi-atesection, upper and lower sections mounted for simultaneous movement toor from positions overlapping said intermediate section, a ilexiblemember connected at one end with the upper portion of said lowersection, extending about the lower edge of said intermediate section andconnected at its other end with the lower portion of said upper section,and means for mounting the several sections for simultaneous movementtoward or from Van elevated position, said exible member being arrangedto extend below all of said sections and form a hand grip when saidsections are in their overlapping positions.

4. A gate of the character described comprising a laterally spacedupright guides, elongate members connected with the respective guidesfor movement lengthwise thereof, an intermediate gate section arrangedbetween and connected Withsaid elongate members for movement therewith,and upper and lower gate sections connectedwith said elongate membersfor movement therewith and for movement with relation thereto into andout of positions overlapping said intermediate section.

5. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced uprightguides, elongate members slidably supported on the respective guides, anintermediate gate section secured. to said elongate members for movementtherewith, a lower gate section slidably connected withr said elongatemembers, an upper gate section having means at its upper portion forslidably connecting the same with said upright guides and havingdownwardly extending parts slidably connected with said elongatemembers, and means for connecting said upper and lower sections withsaid intermediate section for movement therewith and for movement withrelation thereto.

6. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced uprightguides, a gate section arranged between said upright guides and havingat its ends supporting member provided with inclined guideways, andslide blocks engaging s-aid upright guides and having parts movablymounted in the respective guideways of said supporting members.

'1. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spacedupright guides, a gate sectional'- ranged between said guides, elongatemembers secured to and spaced outwardly from the respective ends oi saidgate section and having parts slidably engaging said upright guides,each elongate member having flanges extending inwardly on opposite sidesof said gate section, other gate sections arranged on opposite sides ofthe rst mentioned section and having parts slidably engaging therespective anges, and means for connecting the last mentioned gatesections with the iirst mentioned gate section for movement therewithand for movement with relation thereto into and out of positionsoverlapping said first mentioned gate section.

8. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced uprightguides, a gate Section arranged between said guides, elongate memberssecured to and spaced outwardly from the respective ends of said gatesection and having parts slidably engaging said upright guides, eachelongate member having at least one pair of supporting members providedwith inclined slots, slide blocks movably mounted in the respectivepairs of supporting members, having sliding engagement with said uprightguides yand having parts extending into said slots, each elongate memberalso having flanges extending inwardly on opposite sides of said gatesection, other gate sections arranged on opposite sides of the rstmentioned section and having parts slidably engaging the respectiveflanges, and means for connecting the last mentioned gate sections withthe first mentioned gate section for movement therewith and for movementwith relation thereto into and out of positions overlapping said firstmentioned gate section.

9. A gate of the character described comprising laterally spaced uprightguides, an intermediate gate section, means for connecting said gatesection with said guides for movement lengthwise thereof, upper andlower gate sections, means carried by said intermediate section formovably supporting said upper and lower sections thereon incounterbalancing relation one to the other and to cause the same to movein unison with relation to said intermediate section, and means carriedby said intermediate section to guide said upper and lower sections intheir movement with relation to said intermediate section.

10. A gate of the character described comprising a single pair oflaterally spaced guides, elongate members slidably supported on therespective guides, an intermediate gate section having a downwardlyextending part at each end thereof, means for rigidly securing eachelongate member to the adjacent end and downwardly extending part ofsaid intermediate section, upper and lower gate sections slidablyconnected with said elongate members, and means for connecting saidupper and lower sections with said intermediate sections for movementtherewith and for movement with relation thereto into and out ofpositions overlapping said intermediate sections.

ARTHUR W. CUNNINGHAM.

